Greek soccer player banned for life after Nazi salute celebration

Giorgos Katidis will receive a life ban from the Greek national soccer team after celebrating a goal with an apparent Nazi salute.

After scoring the go-ahead goal for AEK Athens, a team in Greece’s highest professional soccer league, Katidis tore off his shirt and extended his arm in what appeared to be the Nazi salute to the crowd before being mobbed by teammates celebrating the goal.

The Hellenic Football Federation, Greece’s governing body on all matters soccer, called Katidis’ celebration “a deep insult to all victims of Nazi brutality.”

Katidis pleaded ignorance on the meaning of his salute, tweeting “I am not racist in any way. I abhor fascism. I would not have done it if I knew that it meant something. I know the consequences and would not do it ever.”

His professional team and league are also considering taking action against Katidis in the wake of public outcry over the event.